Local fills?

For anyone who had surgery away from home, how did you find someone to do your full locally? Was it difficult? Expensive?

Thanks!

I moved almost immediately after surgery and just called up the bariatric surgeon I see now. He is my mom's surgeon, and did my cousin's fills even though she had her surgery elsewhere as well. He was happy to take me and do fills, he just got all of my records from my original surgeon. I'm really glad that he had no problems taking me because he is a wonderful surgeon, and especially now that I am awaiting my revision (slipped band), I didn't have to search for a new doctor. I have heard that some doctors won't do fills on patients that they didn't do the surgery on, but I had no problems with it. BTW the only reason my cousin went to him for her fills was because her insurance only paid for surgery, but not the fills so she was paying out of pocket. Her original surgeon did fills WITHOUT the barium and x-ray for the same amount that this surgeon did fill WITH it. And they had no problem taking her, even with her original surgeon in the same city!

Why would you want your fills with the barium and x-ray?  I try to avoid as much as possible and would only want a fill that way if there was a problem.  Which our center did if there was and issue.

 

I always had my fills done under fluoro, it was far easier.  One stick and they are there.  That is when I was fat, after I lost weight my port stuck out like a tumor and then fluoro wasn't needed.  But for people that still have a lot of belly fat or flipped ports, etc., fluoro is a wonder.  

Getting a surgeon to take you on a patient can sometimes be difficult especially if you go to Mexico. I had my original surgery at a Center of Excellence, and I changed surgeons and when I was "shopping around' they asked who did my band surgery and they asked if I went to Mexico, some surgeons will take you on but MANY will not if you went to Mexico. 

They feel if you go to Mexico they may not get "accurate" surgical reports or type of band installed and they feel this will be a higher liability and they will not take you on, now some surgeons will but they will ONLY do fills and if you have a band complication they will not help. 

If you do decide to go out of the country find a surgeon LOCALLY BEFORE you get your band installed to make sure they will take you on as a new patient and also MAKE sure they will help you in the event of a complication, many people don't realize that some surgeons will ONLY DO FILLS and NOT help in the event of a complication.

Good luck

 

I have seen band fills for anywhere from $50 to $1500 each.  It really depends a lot on your state. Some states are really bad, some have lots of people who will do aftercare.

If you had band surgery in MX that limits those who will do aftercare drastically.  This only applies to lap bands, not other surgery types.  But band surgeons don't like losing surgery business to another country and thus they won't do the aftercare.  Surgery is their bread and butter, not after care.

What state are you in?

Pennsylvania. Any suggestions? I really appreciate everybody's comments!

Oh, I am PA also, Dr Ku is excellent, he did my band revision surgery, he is in Lancaster, PA, you should call his office.

 

I have an idea... I will PM you.

Great! Can't wait to get home and check